Potential and Problems facing India’s Chemical industry: Perspectives of LANXESS

Potential and Problems facing India’s Chemical industry: Perspectives of LANXESS

• APAC major contributor to the global chemical industry
• Indian specialty chemical industry can grow up to USD 100 billion by 2020
• Challenges need to be addressed to realize potential

LANXESS, a global specialty chemicals company and a leading player in the Indian chemical industry shares opportunities and gives recommendations for addressing the challenges faced by the industry, at the 12^th Annual Chemical Weekly business Outlook conference held at the Hotel Leela in Mumbai. Around 150 delegates from all walks of chemical industry attended the conference. The audience was very responsive and posed thought provoking questions at the end of each session. Being a company that has made an overall investment of 150 million euros on building its assets in India in the last three years and built a case for sustainable development in India, LANXESS clearly stood out as one of the forerunners in the Indian chemical industry at the forum.

At the outset, Mr. Deepak Mehta, an industry veteran and the moderator for the opening panel congratulated Dr. Joerg Strassburger, Managing Director and Country Representative, LANXESS India Private Limited, for building a strong case for the Indian Chemical industry by not only establishing a successful business in India but by expressing his views clearly on the operating environment for chemical businesses in India.

Dr. Strassburger stated that India has the potential to build a USD 80 to USD100 billion specialty chemical industry by 2020 and Asia Pacific region now forms nearly 42% of the global market for chemicals, clearly making it the largest contributor. This further implies that India can leverage this shift in specialty chemical landscape.

The factors that can propel this growth are the strong domestic demand supported by the large rising middle class household   consumption, increase in discretionary spending by middle-class   households and buoyant exports. Dr. Strassburger shared that the Indian chemical industry has attained a critical size of USD100 billion approximately and is growing at close to 8 - 10% on an average. He also explained that end user industries like construction; automotive, tyre and agrochemical are all growing at very healthy rates currently.

Keeping this in mind, LANXESS strategic focus lies in the BRIC countries for growth both through targeted acquisitions and organic growth.

Dr. Strassburger further addressed some of the challenges that can deter the growth of the chemical industry in India. The need for public policy support, improvements in infrastructure, availability of continuous power supply, good connectivity to ports by road and rail, availability of feedstock, simplified tax structure and regulations, chemical parks with adequate facilities, availability of trained and skilled human capital, facility for single window clearance for faster clearances of permits and approvals are the factors that surfaced as the main areas that needed attention for the industry to realize its true value potential in India.

“LANXESS is a strong believer of the success story of Indian chemical industry and will continue to explore further opportunities for investments in India, if the framework is adequate” concluded Dr. Strassburger optimistically, at the conference where LANXESS stood out as an eminent player in the Indian chemical industry.

Darsheel Safaray is Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chasmah fan!!!

Darsheel Safaray is Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chasmah fan!!!

Mumbai: Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chasmah on SABTV has been buzzing with a lot of thrill and excitement for some time now. All the members of the society are putting their heads together to plan a magnificent welcome for a special guest visiting them. So who is this special guest?

This special guest is none other than Darsheel Safaray who, is avid watcher of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chasmah and felt that the cast of the show always blends well and fights against injustice with great conviction which is quite similar to his superhero image Zokkomon.

Zokkomon is a story of an ordinary boy who rises from despair and solitude to meet unexpected challenges with absolute courage and bravery. The young superhero Darsheel Safaray, aka Zokkomon shared his action packed adventures with the kids on the sets of SAB TV’s popular series ‘Taarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah’.

Darsheel Safaray had a great time while shooting with kids his age as he was seen dancing and playing on sets with Tapu Sena.

Darsheel said that, “I am excited to be a part of the show, apart from all the laughs, what I really like is the learning and message of good over evil given at the end of the show. I specially enjoy all the causes that Tapu Sena takes up and the unique way with which they deal with them.”

Says Tappu aka Bhavya Gandhi “Darsheel was very excited to meet tapu sena.He told me that he has been following the show regularly.”

He further added that, “Tapu Sena is very famous for palying pranks on the sets and when darsheel visited us it was double the fun. We were shooting for a dance sequence and when he visited the gokuldham society me,gogi,sonu,pinku and goli decided to play a prank on him.When we were shooting for this sequence everyone kept telling him that he is doing a wrong step.Even the director kept on doing retakes and the gang teased him that he needs to practice more.Finally he gave up and all of us bursted out laughing and told him that it was a prank.”

Daya (Disha Wakani) said that, “She is very excited about Zokkomon visiting TMKOC.In her excitement she even taught Darsheel a few garba steps and he returned the favour by sharing tips on flying like a superhero. Besides this she also learnt few tricks from Zokkomon for self defense.

Catch this exciting and entertaining episode on Darsheel’s visit to Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chasmah this Monday only on SAB TV.

Watch ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashmah’ on April 15, 2011 at 8:30pm only on SAB TV

For further details, please contact:

Atul Malikram

9827092823

P&G’s Shiksha building 20+ schools across India Aims to build at least 20 more in the coming year

P&G’s Shiksha building 20+ schools across India

Aims to build at least 20 more in the coming year

·         Shiksha impacted lives of 150,0001 children till 2010, aims to take number to 200,000 [1] in 2011

·         Rani Mukherjee extends support to Shiksha and to a Shiksha school in the state of West Bengal

·         Consumers can contribute towards education by contributing ‘shampoo-by-shampoo’, ‘detergent-by-detergent’ by buying P&G products and help build schools ‘brick-by-brick’

Mumbai: In India, just 54%[2] of all children in the age group 11-14 years are enrolled in schools and 50%[3] of those who do enroll in class I drop out by class VII. Moreover, 47% [4] of India’s habitation does not even HAVE a primary school. We all hear alarming facts like these often and feel the urge to contribute within our means. P&G’s signature CSR Program “Shiksha” understands this national concern, and gives consumers a simple yet powerful way to participate in building India’s educational future. Every time a consumer buys P&G products such as Tide, Ariel, Pampers, Whisper, Olay, Vicks, Gillette Oral-B, Head & Shoulders, Pantene and Duracell in the month of April, May & June, Shiksha contributes a portion of the proceeds towards children’s education. Now in its 7^th year, Shiksha is back with an even stronger commitment - to take its current impact of 150,0001 children to the 200,000 mark. In 2010, Shiksha RTan building over 20 schools all across India, supported 100+ existing schools and aims to build at-least 20 more in the coming year.  This year, Bollywood megastar Rani Mukherji came on-board to extend her selfless support to Shiksha, encouraging consumers to help Shiksha lead more and more on the path to education. Rani was delighted to hear that Shiksha is also building a school in the state of West Bengal and helped build a model for a play-school that will be presented to the children at RTI Shiksha Begampur High School. At the Shiksha launch event Rani said “It’s truly commendable that with your support, Shiksha has been able to impact 150,000 children and begun building 20 schools across India. I am proud to be associated with Shiksha and felt very happy to be creating this playschool that will be built for the children at RTI Shiksha Begampur High School, West Bengal. I urge you to remember that the next time you walk into a store to shop for something basic like a shampoo, a toothbrush or a detergent - you can help educate a lesser-privileged child by making a simple brand choice”  

Present at the launch, Sharat Verma, Marketing Manager, P&G India said, ‘‘Shiksha is not just an initiative, but a passion that we as an organization strongly believe in. After touching the lives of 150,000 children, we are now helping build the future of India’s children “Brick by Brick” by building 20 schools this year and an aim to build another 20 in the coming year and take Shiksha’s impact to 200,000 children. After all, “Padhega India, tabhi toh Badhega India”

Shiksha has been successful in impacting 150,000 children thus far, in association with leading NGOs - Round Table India (RTI), Child Rights and You (CRY), Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA), Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) amongst others. NGO Round Table India is spearheading the identification, establishment, completion and maintenance of RTI Shiksha School projects in the country as a joint partner bringing onboard expertise in building schools as well as contribution towards funds.

P&G brands Tide, Ariel, Pampers, Whisper, Olay, Vicks, Gillette Oral-B, Head & Shoulders, Pantene and Duracell, contribute to Shiksha in the months of April, May and June. Shiksha channelizes a part of the proceeds from these sales towards educating underprivileged children. Irrespective of sales, P&G will commit a minimum of Rs 1 crore towards the donation funds of Shiksha every year. With a motto of ‘Padhega India, Badhega India’ - Shiksha believes that the secret to a brighter India lies in the quality education of our children.

Shiksha is an integral part of P&G's global philanthropy program - Live, Learn & Thrive - focused on the development of children in need across the globe, currently reaching over 50 million children. Launched in 2004, Shiksha has grown immensely and is today a National Consumer Movement with strong support from consumers. This year, P&G, through Shiksha will build more than 20 schools across the nation to give more children the invaluable gift of education with a focus to build more schools in the years to come.  

• To know more visit: http://www.pgimprovinglife.com/shiksha/
• Follow Shiksha on twitter http://twitter.com/#!/shikshaindia
• Use the Shiksha Facebook application to express your support: http://apps.facebook.com/shikshaindia/
• View Shiskha videos on http://www.youtube.com/shikshaindia

For further details please contact

Atul Malikram

9827092823

Tusshar gets steamy in 'Shor'

Tusshar gets steamy in 'Shor'

Tusshar Kapoor is no more the shy, demure guy he once was. He has a steamy scene in Shor In The City and will indulge in lovemaking scenes in Milan Luthria's Dirty Picture too.

Kapoor muses, "The track in question Saibo is from SITC. It is a soft romantic ballad, picturised on a married couple Radhika (Apte) and me. It's a romantic scene between a middle-class husband and wife living in a chawl that leads to lovemaking. I play a reformed gangster and she's a catalyst in reforming me."

The songs sees Tusshar unhook Radhika's blouse and then watching her undress. "I wasn't embarrassed at all," he says, "I am pro at such scenes now! In fact, my scenes in Dirty Picture are far steamier."

Rehearsed shots

The actor has been linked to his SITC co-star. Maybe the off-screen closeness helped? "Yes, being with Radhika helped a lot. She wanted to rehearse and we would chat a lot while off the sets."

Will he be able to watch the hot scenes with his parents? "My parents have become shock-proof after Kya Kool Hai Hum.

They can't get embarrassed anymore. Saibo is a soft, poetic song and I'm not worried about watching it with my parents."

For further information contact:
Atul Malikram
9827092823
pr@atulmalikram.in

Aamir Ali goes bananas!!!

Aamir Ali goes bananas!!!

This is exactly what the latest inspector on SAB TV’s FIR had to say when we found out that he had to eat a whole bunch of bananas and paan on his very first day itself at work for a shot!

For his first scene of the show, Aamir Ali was to make an entry in his typical character style, eating bananas and paan. But it so happened that he has to take many retakes to ensure the shot was perfect. By the time the perfect shot was taken our Bajrang Pandey, aka Aamir Ali, who otherwise is a foodie, was completely put off by the sight of bananas and paan. The other cast and crew on the sets, though could empathize with him, found it rather hilarious and now they tease him by offering him bananas for lunch each day.

Said Aamir Ali, aka Bajrang Pandey, “It was my first day of shoot and it required me to eat a whole lot of bananas and paan continuously. Initially I thought it will be an easy task as I am very fond of food. But little did I know that I will have to do innumerable re-takes and by end of every take I will be a few bananas down. It was hilarious how everyone at home, thought I was dieting, but I was actually too full and couldn’t even drink water. But now when I look at the final shot, all the continuous eating was worth it!”

Hope all the bananas and paans haven’t messed up your perfect chiseled body.   

Keep watching FIR on SAB TV every Monday – Friday at 10.30 PM

For further information contact:

Atul Malikram

9827092823

pr@atulmalikram.in